Conan Gray, Esha Tewari @ Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 5/10/2026
Conan Gray has come quite a way since his last appearance in Adelaide playing at Spin Off Festival. It is no of surprise that fans are drawn to him with his endearing nature bringing songs of relatable heartbreak to the stage. This was the complete performance that engaged the fans moving from a nautical spectacle to the intimate surrounds of a campfire setting. With four albums to his credit he is definitely in the upper echelons of pop super stardom with the humble beginnings on YouTube becoming a distant memory.
Already there’s traditions established with his fans who are affectionately known as “Coneheads” arriving at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre decked out a variety of sailor uniforms and hats. Didn’t see any pirates or marauders though! Nevertheless, the commitment to the outfit was next level and admirable strengthen the who nautical theme of the show. There was a sense of anticipation and the excitement was palpable.
Indie folk pop singer Esha Tewari opened bringing her unique charm to Adelaide with a bag full of gems played including the likes of bad decision!, In Twos and you were mine. Was good seeing her play with a band this time round and I’m sure there’s bigger things to come for Esha
The quote “A wishbone never breaks evenly” appeared across the screen setting the scene for “Act 1” and moments later Conan Gray makes his entrance on a vintage bicycle dressed in the iconic sailor’s outfit from the Wishbone album cover. It only seemed appropriate to start with My World as the magic of this show started to unfold. The fans screamed, and screamed and screamed a lot more! If they weren’t doing that they were singing the words back with a hearty passion and much gusto. Never Ending Song followed with the collective energy lifting on Care before finishing the first act on Wish You Were Sober from his debut album.
This was musical theatre albeit in an arena and done brilliantly. The show is really well considered and flowed from one Act to the next with relative ease. Moving in to “Act 2: I got the short end of the stick” Gray swapped the sailor outfit for a bedazzled pyjamas and keeping with that dreamlike state it was a change of pace being a bit more subdued with songs such as Class Clown and Nauseous. A Cut That Always Bleeds went down a treat also. This act was less about the spectacle and more about the connection between Gray and the audience with these songs.
Stripped back even further was “Conan’s Campfire” playing songs that don’t necessarily fit with the full grandeur of the show but are still much loved classics of the fans. Tonight’s choice was Jigsaw, an emotional rollercoaster with lyrics like
“I’ve changed every part of me
Until the puzzle pieces aren’t me at all
I look in the mirror, now I’m just a jigsaw-aw”
The campfire on stage was a great aesthetic making it all the more intimate and wholesome.
Act 3 “I took the long way to realisation” was more optimistic thematically this time with Gray emerging in a rowboat for the start of Romeo. The Best was a cue about moving on from your ex which was prompted by Gray asking “who has an ex? And who is here with their ex? There was also a great fan moment being able to break the wishbone with Gray and if successful winning the long section to pick one of two choices going with Yours over The Exit. Orange post it notes were given out to fans before the show to pull out and cover their mobile lights on Heather which created a great effect. The boat disappears and a bed appears for Connell which ends which Gray stretched across it.
Act 4 “I wished for love, and I found it” was that feel good moment of the show picking everyone up and lifting the collective spirits with Actor, Maniac and the massively popular Vodka Cranberry. The costumes and what they represent really did connect with each song and combined with the backdrops, lighting, on stage props worked hand in hand with the music making it the complete performance carrying the story of who Conan Gray was to who he has become now baring his soul to the Adelaide faithful. It would also be remiss to not mention Gray’s all female band are absolute guns and can seriously play also. The encore was like the cherry on the cake sending the audience home on a high with the pairing of Memories and Caramel. A remarkable performance.
Live Review By Rob Lyon